Midlothian creative group takes it easy on Holyrood visit

Easy Does it Group, who were invited to visit the Scottish Parliament on the back of their recent publication.

A Midlothian creative group for isolated people was invited to the Scottish Parliament in recognition of their recently published work.

The Easy Does it group, featuring mostly locals who have suffered from health issues, meet every Tuesday at the Dean Tavern in Newtongrange.

In recognition of their recent book of short stories, Midlothian North MSP Colin Beattie and Midlothian South MSP Christine Grahame (both SNP) invited the group to Holyrood for a visit. Easy Does it Group’s founder Mary Dempster (66) spoke of the importance of the day.

She said: “For some of these people that can’t get out much the group is the only time they get out the house, so this was incredible for them, they loved it.

“That’s very sad in this day and age. It seems we have become an uncaring society.

“People just think of themselves, but don’t realise it could come to them later in life.”